Dianne Brooks

Gwendolyn Dianne Brooks (January 3, 1939 – April 29, 2005), was a soul, r&b and jazz singer from New Jersey.

In the late 1950s, she was involved in the following recordings,

The Three Playmates was made up of sisters Lucille and Alma Beatty and Gwen Brooks (Dianne).

They had a chart hit with one of the records they had released on the Savoy label.

The song "Sugah Wooga" which she co-wrote with Ozzie Cadena managed to get to # 89 on the Billboard Pop Top 100.

With the Three Playmates, Brooks recorded several songs in 1957.

She moved to Toronto shortly thereafter.

Her part in Canadian soul music history began when the group Diane Brooks, Eric Mercury and the Soul Searchers was formed.

As a solo singer, she recorded two albums and several singles of her own.

In 1960, she moved to Toronto.

During the 1960s, she was a member of two popular Canadian r&b / soul groups.

She also appeared regularly on Canadian radio and television.

Along the way, she caught the attention of Jerry Schoenbaum who founded the Verve Records label.

She was offered a deal and recorded two singles for the label.

One of the songs she recorded, "Picture Me Gone" was recorded by Madeline Bell who was also from New Jersey and like Brooks grew up singing gospel.

Like Bell, she would have a similar career, adding her backing vocals to recordings by a multitude of artists.

In 1962, she was featured on a recording relating to the Orbiteer toy.

The song was "The Orbiteer Twist" which was a commercial.

It was also her own composition.

The A side of the single was credited to Dianne Brooks with Billy O'Conner and His Orbiteersmen.

The B side, "My Orbiteer Will Come Back", a Randy Leeds composition was credited to The Orbiteers with Billy O'Conner and His Orbiteersmen.

It was allegedly the first time Robbie Robertson had played on a released recording.

Brooks and saxophonist Steve Kennedy had been part of The Silhouettes who were an established group on the Toronto r&b scene.

The Silhouettes had backed Eric Mercury on his single, "I Wondered Why" / "Softly", released on Clip 1122 in 1966.

The group also backed and included Jack Hardin They played at venues such as Toronto's prominent music club, Friar's Tavern, and the Blue Note club which was also located in Toronto.

Also in 1966, Brooks and Kennedy left the group to form The Soul Searchers with Eric Mercury, guitarist Terry Logan, organist William "Smitty" Smith and drummer Eric "Mouse" Johnson.

According to Smitty's book, A Stroke of Luck, Brooks and Kennedy were in a romantic relationship.

Her biggest solo hit was "Walkin' on My Mind" in 1969.

She was also a prolific session singer.

As a vocalist, she provided backing vocals on albums by a multitude of artists that include Anne Murray, Gino Vannelli and Richie Havens.

She was also a song-writer.

Brooks was born in New Jersey and grew up there singing gospel music.

Things started for her at three years of age when she was singing in her New Jersey church.

Taking note of Dianne's talent, her mother eventually sent her to New York City to study voice.

Brooks was a teenager when she joined the group, The Three Playmates who recorded for the Savoy label.

During the 1970s, she had a lot of work as an in-demand backing vocalist.

Commenting on Brooks, Emmylou Harris once said “I know I'm a valid singer, but when I hear Dianne I feel like handing in my contract.”.

Ray Charles also referred to her as the greatest voice he'd heard since Dinah Washington.

Jack Batten of The Toronto Star once referred to her as the best soul singer in the country.

In reference to Brooks, Anne Murray said that she had never met someone so innovative vocally.